27 February Pausis

27 February: PAUSIS

What happens when the sounds of the ancient world meet contemporary musical expression? We are delighted to present PAUSIS a musical collective from Thessaloniki, Greece, who bring together ancient instruments, voice, and contemporary soundscapes in a journey across cultures, traditions, and time, inspired by ancient world music heritage.

Established in 2017, Pausis has been gracing the stages and captivating audiences at renowned music festivals in Greece, across Europe and beyond. Led by Theodoris Koumartzis, at the heart of the group’s music is the Ancient Greek lyre, skillfully accompanied by the accomplished and versatile instrumentalist Marios Podaras (Ancient Greek pandura and violin), and the exceptional female vocalist Eljona-Eleni Singari. Moving between ancient mythology, traditional melodies, personal reflection, and contemporary storytelling the musicians create a sonic landscape reminiscent of the grand ancient civilizations of the Mediterranean region.

Theodore’s mission is to promote the rich cultural and musical heritage of Ancient Greece and to introduce the Ancient Greek lyre as a symbol of human heritage.These ambitious endeavours entail fruitful collaborations with numerous prestigious institutions and renowned musicians worldwide that have garnered widespread international attention from media outlets such as Deutsche Welle’s radio and television stations, the Turkish television arts channel TRT2, BBC Radio 4 and, most recently, BBC Radio 3’s ‘In Tune’ programme. Besides being a luthier, Theodore is a prominent member of the pioneering Museum of Ancient Music Instruments, Seikilo (https://seikilo.com/)

He also collaborates with two universities in researching and constructing ancient musical instruments.

Marios is a skilled musician proficient in the playing of the Ancient Greek pandura, tzoura, oud and violin. As part of his musical journey, he has engaged in numerous musical endeavours, involving memberships of bands within Greece and makng his mark as a perfomer at festivals and concert venues throughout Europe. As well as performing, Marios has exhibited his compositional talent in multiple creative domains such as writing musical scores for films, award-winning video games, and contemporary dance performances. His involvement in albums and music collaborations in diverse stylistic genres further attests to his versatility as a musician.

Eljona-Eleni embodies a multifaceted artistic persona, having undertaken comprehensive training in both piano and vocal disciplines. Throughout her career, she has actively engaged in an impressive array of musical pursuits, participating in numerous festivals, recordings, and events alongside acclaimed classical music orchestras and chamber music ensembles. She has also lent her vocal talents to various choirs and highlighted her exceptional skills as an a cappella arranger. Moreover, her artistic ventures extend beyond the realm of classical music, as she has captivated audiences with her acting and singing contributions to theatrical performances.

 “..a musical journey of highly aesthetic sounds and presentation, a world unto itself…”

Have a listen:

https://youtu.be/w6u_3NtM9do?si=NV-F4IeUud_dpRCt

https://youtu.be/cb9G44broOo?si=mBUU-g1aBS049_0k